Pneumatic feeding-machine.



Patenfed Deb. 25, I899.

W. CARTER. PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application 'flled Apr. 12, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

.W. CARTER.

PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr." 12', 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, I899. W. CARTER.

PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1899.) v (No Model.) 5 sheets-shaet 3.

No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, l899.": W. CARTER.

PNEUMATIC FEEDING MACHINE.

(Applicatiqn filed. Apt. 12, 1899.)

5 Sheets-$hee 4.

(No Model.)

'No. 639,960. Patented Dec. 26, I899.

I WUGARTER. I

rusunnc Fazmus mumms.

Apialication aim li -J12, 1899.)

6 sheats shee f 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFlCE.

' WILLIAM CARTER, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

PN EU MATIC F5501 N c-MAo i n E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 639,960, dated December26,1899.

' Application filed April 12,1899. Serial No. 712.122. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CARTER, lithographic printer, a subject ofthe Queen of Great Britain, residing at 62 Bothwell Circus, Glasgow,Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PneumaticFeeding Mechanism for Feeding Sheets of Paper to Printing and otherMachines, (for which I The features of novelty constituting the presentinvention are pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification,and in order that my said invention may be clearly understood I havehereunto appended five explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon- Figure 1is a front elevation of the feeding mechanism. Fig. 2 is a. side view ofthe same. The mechanism is shown as attached to a Wharfedaleprinting-machine, which is broken away. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig.4a back view,of the sheet-holder. Fig. 5 is a detail view of themechanism for actuating the sheetholder. Fig. 6 is a plan and side viewof the cradle of the sheet-holder. Fig. 7 is'a'section of the suctionfeed-roller. Fig. 8 is a plan of part of the feed-table. Fig. 9 shows amodification of the bellows-actuating mechanism. Fig. 10 shows anarrangement which may be used in conjunction with the suction-producer.Fig. 11 shows the invention adapted to an American overhead-feedtwo-revolution printing-machine or an ordinary lithographic machine.

-On the drawings the same reference-numerals wherever repeated indicatethe same or similar parts.

1 is the frame of the printing-machine.

2 is the-frame of the feeding mechanism.

3 is the suction feed-cylinder.

4 are endless feeding-tapes running around the cylinder. v

5 are the snction'holes or cups of the cylinder.

6 is the cylinder-shaft.

7 is the suction-pipe, which cbmmunicates upon the shaft 11, by meansof? pin let. p r

15is an endless chain (in dotted lines) passing around the wheel 12 andwhich can be driven from any suitable revolving shaft on the machine towhich the sheets of paper are beingfed. a 16 is a cross-shaft providedwith rubbertired'friction-wheels 17.

Sis an endless chain which drives the chain- I 13, fixed the locking- 18is an air-blast pipe (supported by brack ets 18) arranged across theupper partof the machine.

19 are a series of blast-taps provided on the pipe 18, which latter canDe-supplied with air underpressure from any suitable s0urce,f,' such asa small bellows, revolving fan, or the.

like. (Not shown.)

20 is the sheet-holder, which, as shown, is

preferably made in the form of a light slotted cast-metal frame having aseries of alternate long and short fingers 21 22 at its upper end. Thepurpose of this alternation of long and short fingers is to vpreventadhesion of the sheets of paper together byatmospheric pressure orbyelectricity, as the consequent bending or ridgingup ot' the pack tendsto separate the sheets slight] y (me from the other,whereby the paper isfa'nned out and the sheets slightly separated, so as to more readilyadmit air from the blow-pipe nozzles between the sheets, which muchfacilitates the pulling off of'the individualisheets by the suctiondevice, and in addition the pile on insertion may be much more easilystraightened and put into proper alinemeut for feeding than would be thecase were not such fingers used. Theuse of these alternate long andshort fingers is onlyof advantage when feeding thin papers, such astissue, &c. This sheet-holder is held in an inclined position (nearlyvertical) upon a cradle 23. (See also Fig. 6.) The pile of paper sheetsto be fed to the machine is held in poof position laterally b I clampedin the proper position on the holder 35 ing at each side.

' the cross-bars 50 and alsoa cross-bar 52 at the center. Secured 6olocked into a. recess in, the

sition upon edge, resting upon rests 24:, projecting from a cross-barSlat the front of the holder, and are prevented frommoving out means ofgages 25,

by screws passing through slots 26 in the holder and provided withbutterfly-nuts 27 at their outer ends.

28 is an adjustingscrew operated by the hinged handle 29 and workinginthe screwed nut 30, connected with the cross-bar 31, the bearing 35,and a foot-step inade 6n the bottom of the holder (seeFig. 3) forraising and lowering the cross-barand the rgsts attached :5 thereto inorder to adjustthe holder for the reception of various sizes of papersheets.- One projecting rest 2 t is preferably provided' on the bar 31for each vertical slot 32 of the holder. Between the prongs of each rest24 am air-blast pipe 37 may project, said pipes being perforated attheir upper sides and be-. ing connected at their front ends to acrosspipe 33, to which air under suitable source (such as a bellows) issupplied through a flexible pipe 34.

38 are struts for supporting the holder. 39 are collars at the lowerends of these struts, which slide upon the guide-bars 40 of the cradle.

0 42 is a pinching-bar made with aseries of short arms or projections41, against which the paper sheets are pressed or pinch-ed. 43 a is asecond pinching-bar which is made with a series of ldng arms orprojections 44, project- These bars 4-2 43 can be adjusted in position45 at each end, provided with handrwheels 46. The bars slide at each endin slots *7 47, made 4:: in the side frames 1 and-2. The pinching-bars,

asclearlyshown at Figl-2, are held at an angle which exactly correspondsto the angle of inclination of the holder. h

The cradle, as shown at'Fig. 6, consists 'of 5 two bent bars 48 49,connected together at the ends. Both bars are bent downward at thecenter, while the bar 48 is also bent inward at the center. The-cradleis provided with or guide-bars 40'at the ends tothe under side-of thiscrossbar 52- is a rocking block 53,'which has a curved lower face(see-Figs. 2 and 5) adapted to rest in the curvedface 54 of the centralframe 55 of the 55 machine. (See Fig; 5.) The bars. 4'8 4.) are a strap00, securedtoa drum 61, Fig; 2, on across-shafts), providedwithtorsion-springs 1 5 tending to revolve it in such a manner aspressure from a n y either nearer to orlfar- Y ther away from the holderby means of screws crumed in the side is first adjusted so as .to giveit the to wind up the strap. The shaft 62 revolves in bearing-bracketson the frames 65 of the bellows 66. Instead of using torsion-springsspiral springs may be connected in any wellknown manner, so as'to actdirectly upon the straps 60, or weights may be attached to the ends ofthese straps. (See Fig. 11.) Each rack 59 has gearing with it atoothedsegment 66, jointed to a link i7,which again isjointed to aslightly-curved lever (58', keyed to the shaft G9. The main shaft 11 hason it two cams 70, each of which acts upon a roller 71, connected toeach segmenttl i. Near the center of the shaft 11 there is a cam72,,which acts upon a roller 73, pinned to the upprend'- .pf a lever 74,also keyed on the shaft (J9. This mechanism, as will be hereinafterdescribed, actuates the sheet-holder. I

In order to actuate the bellows, there is provided at each end of theshaft lla chain- .wheel 75, from which a chain 7ttpasses to achain-Wheel 77, revolving on a pin, 78, se-

cured in the bellows-frame U5. Secured to the wheel 77 is asecond wheelfrom which an endless chain 79 passes around a wheel 80, revolving on apin 81, secured adjustably in a slot 82 in the bellows-frame. Slidablyfitted in each vertical slot 83'of the bellows-frame is a block 84, uponwhich is pivoted a twoarmed catch 85, whose one arm is pointed, so as toenter between the links of the chain 79, and whose other arm is providedwith a roller 86, running upon a guide 87, curved sharply at its upperend. Each guide is secured to the bellows-frame.

The bellows 66 is supported between the side frames 65 and has at itslower side a shelf 51, upon which weights can be placed, so as toregulate the action of the bellows, and thereby control the suction ofthe feedcylinder.

The frame 88 of thefeed-table SS is jointed at each side to .a cra'nkedlever '89, ful plates 22, carrying the feed-cylinder bearings. At itsrear end the tableframe is furnished at each side with a shoe 91,provided with a bolt and nut 05, whereby it can be a justed i| 1position in a slot 92, Fig-8, niade in each-side frame of the machine.

The endless feed-tapes run over guidc-roll-.

crs 93011 the cross-shaft 94.

The mmtus ope rundijs as follow; The table proper position and tostretch the tapes 4 by means of the sliding. shoes 91 and the slots'02,and when adjusted is locked in position by screwing up the nuts 95.After this has. been done the pile of-sheets is inserted in theholderflO (which forthis purpose is brought nearly to the horizontalposition by disengaging the levers 58 from their recesses and thenpulling the holder backward against the action of the spring 63) in themanner shownat Fig. 3, where 50 indicates thc'sheets; and the gages25andrcsts 2-t'ad j listed, (the latter by means of the screw 28 and theformer by shifting them laterally in the slots 26 and then clamping themin place by means of the butterflynuts 27,) and then the holderis pushedup into the position (nearly vertical) shown at Figs.-

2 and 3, which can easily'be done, owing to the fact that the block 53of the cradle of the holder works ball-and-socket-wise upon the curvedface 54 of the frame 55, and then the weighted levers 58 are locked intothe recesses of the frames 2, so as to prevent the cradle swinging backout of position. it may here be stated that when the levers 58 arereleased from the recesses the powerful springs 63, acting upon thestraps 60, while permitting the holder, with its cradle, to be turnedupon the face 54, prevent it falling back entirely out of place.v Thecradle being securely locked in position by the levers 58, the holder isslid along the guide-bars .40 until the pile of sheets presses againstthe pinching-bars 42 and 43, against which the sheets are held tightlyby the action ofthe springs 63. The

machine is now set in .motion by clutching- (by the pin 14)theloosely-running driving chain-wheel 1 2 to the fixed wheel 13 on theshaft 11, whereupon said shaft is set in rotation, with the result thatthe chain 8 actuates the wheel 9 and shaft 6 and revolves thefeedcylinder 3, while at the same time the chaingears 75, 75, 76, 77,79, and 80 at each side I of the machine are set in motion. The runningof the chain 79 carries up the finger of the block 84, and the blockitself (whichis connected to the bellows 66) is caused to ascend theslot 83, with the roller on its arm 85 hearing against the gu'ide87.This ascension of the block 84 (one at each side of. the ma chine) compresses the bellows against the action of the weights on the shaft 51.When the block nearly reaches the top of the slot 83, the roller 86 ofthe arm 85 works around the curved upper end of the guide 87, with theresult that the finger is disengaged from the chain 79, and immediatelythis disengagement takes place the weights of the bellows drop andexpand the bellows suddenly, there- .by creating a sudden suction in thepipe 7 and the feed-cylinder. This sudden suction is timed to take placejust as the suction-cups 5 of the feed-cylinder come opposite the upperend of the first sheet of the pile, with th result that the sheet islifted and carried by the feed-cylinder directly onto the tapes 4. Therollers 17 assist ingrippingand feeding forward the sheets.

In order to insure that the sheets shall be easily lifted one at a time,it is necessary that the holder should be caused to recede slightly justat the moment when thesuction of the cups 5 acts upon the front sheet ofthe pile and during its process of removal, so as to relieve thepinching action and loosen' the sheets, and this receding movement iseffected by the cam-and-rack mechanism. Each cam is shaped, as shown infull lines. at Fig. 5,

, so as to allow its roller 71 and toothed segmcnt 66 to move downwardonce in each and then, owing to the roller 73 of the arm 74 runningagainst the reduced part of the cam,

to recede and remain in this position during about one-third of therevolution of the cam.

As the arm 74 is rigidly secured to the shaft 69 and as the arm 68 islikewise secured, it

follows that the said arm 68 receives a similar motion. As the cams havenot a positive action springs (not shown) are employed to keep therollers of the arms bearing against the faces of the cams. Now when thearm 74 is moved forward each arm 68, along with its segment 66, is alsomoved forward, and owing to the fact that each roller 71 at such timesruns upon the entended part of its cam (see Fig.5) each segment is inengagement with its rack 59, whereupon it follows that each rack ismoved forward--that is, caused to recede-thereby moving-back the holderon the guides 40 of the cradle and relieving thepressure on the papersheets. When the reduced part of the cam 72 bears upon the arm 74; theracks and holder are free to move back again to their former positionsunder the action of the spring 63 and again press the} sheets againstthe pinching-bars 42 43.

When therollers 71 traverse the reduced parts of the cams 7 0, thesegments 66 are moved out of engagement with the racks, so that at suchtimes the holder is left entirely free, whereby an automatic forwardfeed under the action of the springs 63 is permitted, sufficient tocompensate for the sheets as they are withdrawn one by one. Thiscompensat ing movement of the holder is'timed, to take place just beforethe suctiou-cups 5 act upon the front sheet. of the pile. The blasts ofair delivered through the nozzles 19 and perforated pipes 37 tend toseparate or .blow apart the sheets, so as to reduce the likelihood oftwo or more sheets being lifted together by the suction-cups.

By making the holder with long and short projections 21 22 and slots 32the sheets are not so liable to adhere to oneanother. This constructionalso reduces the weight of the holder.

Instead of using the arrangement shown at Figs. 1 and 2 for actuatingthe bellows a cam- I do action may be employed, as shown at Fig. 9.

The mechanism consists of a cam 100, which is of a comma shape, asshown, a bent lever 101, fulcrnmed at 102 on the side frame of thebellows, a link 103, anda sliding pin 104, working in thevertical slot.83 of the bellows-frame. A set of this mechanism is provided at eachside of the bellows, and the pins 104 (which correspond to the blocks84) are connected to the bottom of the bellows. The cams are secured onthe cross-shaft ll. Owing to the pcculiarshapo of the cams 100 the pinsare caused to ascend and compress the bellows slowly, and when eachroller 106 reaches the point 107 of each cam the pins are allowed tofall suddenly, (under the action of the weights, as aforedescribedf) andthereby expand the bellows suddenly and produce a sharp and suction-cups5.

If desired ,where the suction for the machine is derived from someoutside source, such as an engine, and the suction is a instant one abellows 108 may be connected with the suction-pipe, as shown at Fig. 10,so as to augment the sucking action at certain times, and thereby givethe necessary sudden suction whenever a sheet is being removed from thepile. Connected with the bellows are the pipe 108 from the cngine'andthe pipe 108 to the suction feed-cylinder 3, and this latter pipe isprovided with a valve 109, operated, so as to open and close at theproper times, by suitable mechanism driven by the machine. The bellows108 whenever the valve 109 is opened would, through the reduction of thevacuum produced by the opening of the valve, suddenly expand to acertain extent under the action of weightsfil at its under side, andtherebyproduce a sudden suction at the suction-cups 5.

Should the feed-cylindcr miss a sheet, the

. blocks S4 of the bellows would fall right down to the bottom of theslotshti, which is a thing they never do when the machine is properlyworking, and would strike a lever 110, (see dotted 'lines, Fig. 2,)fulcrumed at 111 and connected to a trigger-112, which latter would bemoved so as to actuate the usual checkaction of theprintirig-machine:

The arrangement for the American style of printing-machine, Figxil, ispractically the same as fol-the English machines, but slightly alteredin the arrangement of the parts. In this case the holder may be pulledforward by weights (30, attached to the straps 60, instead of by spriuHaving now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In pneumatic mechanism for fcedingpaper sheets the combination of areciprocating shect-holdcrand a rockablc cradle upon which the holderreciproczues, substantially as set forth.

2. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of areciprocating shcet-holder, means for reciprocating the holder and arockable cradle upon which the holder reciprocate-s, substantially asset forth.

In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of areciprocating.- sheetholdcr, means for reciprocating the holder, arochahlc cradle provided with pivots at each side andwith guidcs n ionwhich the holder rec? rocatcs, substantially as set forth.

i. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of arcciprocatdecided suction at theots at each side, guides upon which theholden reciprocates, a cross-bar with rocking block which rocks upon asupporting-frame and hinged weighted levers for locking thecradle inposition, substantially as set forth.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame forholding the paper to be fed, of pneumatic mechanism for feeding thepaper sheets from the frame, a movable cross ba-r provided with a numberof projections serving as rests or supports for the pile of sheets atono'cdge, and a screw for raising and lowering the cross-bar,substantially as shown and described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame forholding the pa per to be fed provided with a plurality of vertical slotsand with alternating long and short fingers at its upper end, of amovable rest for supporting one edge of the pileot' sheets, and a screwfor raisingand lowering the rest, substantially assho\vn and described.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with pneumaticmechanism for feeding the paper sheets, ofa vertical or inclinedsheet-holder consisting of a slotted frame provided at its upper endwith longand short lingers, substantially asdescribcd and for thepurposes set forth.

9. I In pneumatic mechanism forfecdiug pa pcrsheets, the combination ofa movable sheet-holder, means for moving the holder and adjustablepinching-bars having projections or arms against which the paper ispinched, substantially as set forth.

10. In pneumatic mechanism for feedingpaper sheets the combination of aframe, a mov able holder carried by the frame, means for moving theholder, slots made in the frame, pinching-bars 42, i carried in theslots and screws for adjusting the pinching-bars in the slots rciativeiywith the holder, substantially as set forth.

11. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding papershceis the combination of aframe, a movable holdcr carried by the frame, racks fitted to theholder, means for pulling the holder forward and toothed segmentsoperated by cam-and-levcr mechanism for moving the holder backward,substantially as set forth.

12. In pneumatic mccha n ism for feeding paper sheets thecombinnlion ofa frame, a movable holder carried by the l'ramc, racks titted totheholder, strapsii lied 1 o ihr racks, springs acting upon the strapssons to pull tho holder forward and means for moving ilu lilllllui'substantially as set forth.

13. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of aframe, a movable holder carried by the frame, racks fitted to theholder,straps fitted to the racks, springs acting upon the straps so asto pull-the holder forward, segments gearing with the racks, leverslinked to the segments, a cam for actuating the levers, and means foroperating the cam, substantially as set forth.

14. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of aframe, a movable holder carried by-the frame, racks fitted to theholder, straps fitted to the racks, springs acting upon the straps so asto pull the holder forward, segments gearing with the racks, leverslinked to the, segments, a cam for actuating the levers, means foroperating the cam,

cams for moving the segments into and out .of gear with the racks andmeans for operat -l ing these cams, substantially as set forth;

15. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding pa; per sheets the combination ofa frame, a rock-' able cradle carried by the frame, a movable holderwhich slides upon the cradle, means for pulling the holder forward and.toothed segments operated by cam-and-lever mechanism for moving theholder backward, substantially as set forth. 1

' 16. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination ofa reciprocating sheet-holder, a crossbar-31 fitted to the holder, restsforthe paper sheets on the cross-bar, means for raising and loweringthecross-bar on the holder, a series of perforated pipes fitted on thecross-bar and "means for causinga blast of air to issue throughtheperforations of the pipes, substantially as set forth.

- 17. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding papersheets the combination ofa frame,- a suction device for feeding the sheets carried by the frame,a bellows for producing the suction, weights for expanding the bellows,chain and chain-wheel gear driven from a power-shaft for collapsing thebellows and means for connecting the chain-gear to the bellows,substantially as set forth.

18. In pneumatic mechanism forfeedingpaper sheets the combination of aframe, a suction device for feeding the sheets carried bythe frame, abellows for producing the suction, weights for expanding the bellows,chain and chainavheel gear driven from a1 power-shaft for collapsing thebellows means for connecting the chain-gear to the bellows and means forautomatically disconnecting the chaingear from the bellows whenever thej latter is collapsed so that the weights may suddenly act upon thebellows and producea sudden suction in the suction device, substantiallyas set forth.

19. In pneumatic mec anism forfeedingpaper sheets thercombinatomof-aframe, a-suction device for feeding the'sheets carriedb'y theframe, abellows for. producing the suction, weightsfor expanding the bellows,

power-shaf t for collapsing the bellows, blocks connected to the bellowsand escapement-levers pivoted on the blocks for connecting thechain-gear to the bellows and means for antomatically disconnecting thechain-gear from the bellows at certain times, substantially as setforth.

20. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of aframe, a suction device forfeeding the sheets carried by the frame, abellows for producing the suction, a frame for the bellows, slots madein the frame, weights for expanding the bellows, chain and chain-wheelgear driven from a on the bellows working in the slots of the bel-1ows-frame, pivoted escapement-levers each having two arms one of whichcan look into the chain-gear and the other being provided with a roller,and guides secured to the frame vers travel, substantially as set forth.

21. In pneumatic'mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of aframe, a rotating suction-cylinder carried by the frame, suction-cups onthe cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, a bellows for producingthe suction, weights for actuating the bellows in one direction and cammechanism for actuating the bellows in the opposite direc tion,substantially as set forth.

22. In pneumatic mechanism forfeedingpaper sheets the combination of aframe, a rotating suction-cylinder carried by the frame,

tating the cylinder, a'bellows for producing the suction, weights foractuatingthe bellows in one direction,levers connected with the bellowsfor actuating it in the opposite direction and cams for operating thelevers so as to produce a sudden suction in the suction-cylinder whenthesheets are being lifted, substantially as set forth.

23. In pneumatic mechanism for feeding paper sheets the combination of aframe, a rotating swieifcylinder carried by the frame, suction-cups onthe cylinder, chain-gear fori rotatingthe cylinder, a bellows forproducing thes'uction in the cylinder, means for operating thebe1lows,areciprocating sheet-holder,

m-eans' for reciprocating the holder, a rockgablercradle upon which theholder is carried inder, means for producing the suction in the chainand chain-wheel gear driven from a power-shaft for collapsing thebellows, blocks upon whichthe rollers of the escapement-le suction-cupson the cylinder, means for r0 tapes working. in conjunction with thecylcylinder, means for regulating the suction, for throwing the segments66 into and out of the reciprocating sheet-holder 20, the cradle gearwith the racks 59, substantlally as set 23 upon which the holder, iscarried, means forth.

v for locking the oradlein position, racks 59 se- Signed at Glasgow, inthe 'eountyofGlas 5 cured to the holder, means for pulling theg0\v,"Scotl and, this 29th day of March, 1899. I5

holder forward, segments 66 gearing with the Y '5 racks, levers 68connected to the segments, a x I CAR 1 shaft GU carrying the lever G8, alever '74 cmn- Witnesses: r nected to the shaft; U9, a cam 72 foroperat- \VILLIAM GALL, Z0 in the lever 74: and shaft 69, and cams TUTHOMAS GRACE.

